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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


t»t 


1.0    £fi^  Ui 

■tt  lU   12.2 


1.1 


S    U2    12.0 


lilies  U4 


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Photograph 
Sciences 
Corporation 


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^•^ 


O' 


as  WMT  MAIN  STRHT 
ynlMTIR.N.V.  I4SM 

(7U)I79-4S03 


.  c^ 


1 


Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 

■  mm         m 

mi 


Canadian  Instituta  for  Historical  IMicroraproductions  /  Inatitut  Canadian  da  microraproductiona  liiatoriquaa 


1 


TMhnieal  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notaa  taehnlquaa  at  UbHographiqiiaa 


Tha  Inatltuta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  avallaMa  for  filming.  Faaturaa  ^1  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibHograpMcaNy  unlqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproductlon,  or  which  may  algniflcantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  haiow. 


D 


Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I  Covara  damagad/ 


D 
D 


D 


a 


Couvartura  andommagia 

Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurAa  at/ou  pallicul4a 


□  Covar  titia  miaaing/ 
La  tKra  da  couvartura  manqua 

□  Colourad  mapa/ 
Cartaa  gAograph 


gAographiquaa  an  coulaur 

•d  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


I     I  Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 


|~~|  Coloured  plataa  and/or  iliuatrationa/ 


Planchaa  at/ou  iliuatrationa  an  coulaur 


Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
Raii4  avac  d'autraa  documanta 


Tight  binding  may  cauaa  shadowa  or  diatortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  raliura  aarrAa  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
diatortion  la  long  da  la  marga  intAriaura 

Blank  laavaa  addad  during  raatoratton  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  poaalbia.  thaaa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
11  aa  paut  qua  eartainaa  pagaa  bianchaa  ajoutiaa 
iora  d'una  raatauration  apparaiaaant  dana  la  taxta. 
mala,  loraqua  caia  Atait  poaaibia.  eaa  pagaa  n'ont 
paa  4t*  fiimAaa. 

Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantairaa  •uppiimantairaa: 


L'Inatltut  a  mterofllmA  la  maillaur  axamplaira 
qu1l  lul  a  4t*  poaaibia  da  aa  procurer.  Laa  dAtaila 
da  cat  axamplaira  qui  aont  paut-Atra  uniquaa  du 
point  da  vua  Mbitographiqua,  qui  pauvant  modlfiar 
una  Imaga  raprodulta,  ou  qui  pauvant  axigar  una 
modification  dana  la  m4thoda  normala  da  fiimaga 
aont  indlquAa  d-daaaoua. 


Tl 
to 


D 


Colourad  pagaa/ 
Pagaa  da  coulaur 


□  Pagaa  damagad/ 
Pagaa  andommag^aa 

□  Pagaa  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Pagaa  raataurAaa  at/ou  pailiculAaa 


Pagaa  diacoiourad,  atainad  or  foxad/ 
Pagaa  dAcoiorAaa,  tachatiaa  ou  piquAaa 


□  Pagaa  datachad/ 
Pagaa  dAtachAaa 

rrri   Showthrough/ 


D 


Tranaparanca 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  in4gala  da  I'impraaaion 

Includaa  aupplamantary  matarii 
Comprand  du  material  auppi4mantaira 

Only  adition  aveilabia/ 
Baula  Mitton  diaponibia 


rn   Quality  of  print  variaa/ 

rn  Includaa  aupplamantary  material/ 

I — I   Only  adition  aveilabia/ 


Pagea  wholly  or  partieliy  obacurad  by  errete 
alipa,  tiaauee,  etc.,  heve  been  refilmed  to 
enaura  the  beat  poaaibia  image/ 
Lee  pegee  totaiement  ou  partieliement 
obacurciaa  per  un  fauiilet  d'errete.  une  pelure. 
etc..  ont  At*  filmAea  A  nouveeu  de  fe^on  A 
obtenir  le  melikiure  imege  poaaibia. 


Tl 

P< 
of 
fil 


Oi 
b« 
th 

sii 
ot 
fil 
si< 
or 


Tl 
•^ 
Tl 

wl 

M 
dii 

er 
b« 
rif 
re 
mi 


This  item  Is  filmed  et  the  reduction  retio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  fllmA  eu  teux  de  rAductlon  IndiquA  oi-dessous. 

10X  14X  1IX  22X 


2iX 


30X 


J 


12X 


IfX 


»X 


24X 


2tX 


32X 


taNs 
du 

un« 
nag* 


Th«  copy  filniMl  h«r«  haa  baan  raproducad  thanka 
to  tha  ganaroaity  of: 

I 
Library  Diviiion 

Proviitcial  Archivtt  of  British  Columbit 

Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tlAa  baat  quality 
poaaibia  eonaidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  liaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  apacificationa. 


Original  copiaa  in  printad  papar  covara  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa- 
aion.  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copiaa  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
f  irat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa- 
sion.  and  anding  on  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illuatratad  impraaaion. 


Tha  laat  racordad  frama  on  aach  microfiche 
ahall  contain  tha  aymbol  — ^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  aymbol  ▼  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  appliaa. 

Mapa,  plataa,  charts,  ate,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratioa.  Thooa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  includad  in  ona  axpoaura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  corner,  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  framas  as 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrams  illustrata  tha 
mathod: 


L'aMamplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  grica  A  la 
g6nAroaitA  da: 

Library  Divition 

Provincial  Archivat  of  British  Columbia 

Laa  imagaa  auivantaa  ont  AtA  raproduitoa  avac  la 
plua  grand  aoin.  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  I'aKamplalra  film*,  at  an 
conformit*  avac  laa  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Laa  axamplairaa  originauK  dont  la  couvartuta  wt 
papiar  aat  ImprimAa  aont  f llmAa  an  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  aoit  par  la 
darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'illuatration.  aoit  par  la  aacond 
plat,  aalon  la  caa.  Toua  laa  autraa  axamplairaa 
originaux  aont  filmia  wn  commandant  par  la 
pramiAra  paga  qui  comporto  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'illuatration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darniAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  talla 
amprainta. 

Un  das  symbolaa  suivanta  apparaltra  sur  la 
darnlAra  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha.  salon  la 
caa:  la  symbols  -^  aignifia  "A  8UIVRE".  la 
symbola  ▼  aignifia  "FIN". 

Laa  cartaa.  planchaa.  tableaux,  ate.  pauvant  Atra 
fiimAs  A  daa  taux  da  rAduction  diffArants. 
Loraqua  la  document  aat  trap  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  aeul  clichA.  il  eat  filmA  A  partir 
da  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  baa.  wn  prenant  la  nombre 
d'imagea  nAcesseire.  Les  diagrammaa  suivanta 
illuatrent  la  mAthode. 


rrata 

;o 


palure. 
iA 


□ 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

c 


T//£  ALASKA  BOUNDARY, 


SPEECH 


ow 


HON.  WATSON  C.  SQUIRE, 

OF  WASHINGTON, 


IN  TUB 


SENATE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


JANUARY  3,  1898. 


^V^ASHITSrOTON". 
1896. 


•■•     . 


SEP  ^*^  60 


STEECn 


HON.  WATSON  C.  SQUIEE. 


The  Senate  having  under  consideration  the  joint  resolution  (S.  R.39)  mall* 
ing  an  appropriation  to  defray  th(>  joint  expenses  of  locating  the  boundary 
line  (xitwcen  the  Territory  of  Alaska  and  the  British  North  American  tern* 
tory. 

THE  ALASKAN  BOUNDARY. 

Mr.  SQUIRE  said: 

Mr.  Phesidrnt:  I  introduce  a  joint  resolution  and  ask  that  it  be 
read  at  length. 

The  joint  resolution  (S.  R.  39)  making  an  appropriation  to  de- 
Tray  the  joint  expense  of  locating  the  bounflary  line  between  the 
Territory  of  Alaska  and  the  British  North  American  territory 
was  read  the  first  time  by  its  title  and  the  second  time  at  length, 
as  follows: 

RfHolwd  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  of 
America  in  Congress  assembled.  That  in  view  of  the  expediency  of  forthwith 
negotiating  a  convention  with  Oreat  Britain  for  marking  convenient  points 
upon  the  one  hundred  and  forty-flrst  meridian  of  wost  longitude  where  it 
forms,  under  existing  treaty  provisions,  the  boundary  line  between  the  Terrl« 
tory  of  Alaska  and  the  British  North  American  territory,  and  to  enable  the 
President  to  execute  the  provisions  of  such  convention  without  delay,  when 
concluded,  the  sum  of  $75,000,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary,  be,  and 
the  same  is  hereby,  appropriated  out  of  any  moneys  in  the  Treasury  not 
otherwise  appropriated,  to  oe  immediately  available,  under  the  direction  or 
the  Presid<-nt,  to  defray  the  share  of  the  united  States  in  the  joint  expense 
of  locating  said  meridian  and  marking  said  bound.*ry  by  an  international 
commission. 

Mr.  SQUIRE.  Mr.  President,  I  will  state  in  explanation  of  the 
joint  resolution  that  the  people  of  the  Pacific  Coast  desire  a  speedy 
settlement  of  the  boundary  question  in  Alaska.  I  have  had  rep- 
resentationa  mado  to  me  on  tnat  subject  of  the  most  urgent  char- 
acter. People  who've  homes  are  in  t'le  State  of  Washington  are 
engaged  in  raining  in  the  Territory  of  Alaska.  They  are  engaged 
in  transporting  supplies  for  their  subsiatence  while  conducting 
their  operations  in  mining.  Others  are  engaged  in  trading  as 
merchants  between  the  ports  on  Puget  Sound  and  the  ports  of 
Alaska. 

From  a  report  published  by  the  Coast  Survey  in  1893  T  quote 
the  following  extracts,  as  showing  the  extent  and  importance  of 
this  great  Territory: 

It  is  regrettable  that  our  sources  of  information  for  late  Alaskan  statistios 
are  confined  to  the  brief  summaries  of  the  governor's  reports,  and  that  for  • 
comprehensive  study  of  all  the  wealth-producing  Industries  of  the  Territory 
we  have  to  go  to  the  publications  of  the  census  for  1800. 

The  extraordinary  growth  of  this  but  partially  explored  Territory,  with  Its 
valuable  resources  on  land  and  the  almost  limitless  wealth  in  its  waters,  de- 
manilB  greater  attention  than  has  heretofore  bet«n  accorded  it.  and  raakee 
im|)erattve  that  general  and  comprehensive  aids  to  its  navigation  and  com- 
merce be  supplied. 

1958  i 


22ti345 


This  vast  re^on  containB  Bbout  000.000  Hquare  miles,  being  about  twelve 
•nd  a  half  times  the  area  of  the  Stat«  of  New  Ynrk.  It  han  H|ii>i-oximatHl7 
S0,000  miles  of  shore  line,  which  exceeds  that  of  the  Atlantic,  Punilc,  and  Qiilf 
coasts  of  the  United  States  by  over  ll.ax)  miles,  while  the  iHlands  along  its 
ooast  are  estimated  to  be  1,100  in  number.  A  course  parallel  witli  the  trend 
of  its  shore  from  Cape  Mnzon,  its  most  southerly  point,  to  Point  Barrow,  its 
most  northerly  one,  is  about  a,8(IO  miloH.  Tlie  Aleutian  chain  of  islands  is 
about  I.IOU  miles  long,  and  Attu,  the  most  westerly  one  of  this  group,  is  about 
*;»0  miles  west  of  Sitlta. 

There  are  ininienso  forests  in  Alaska,  densely  covering  overy  part  of  the 
eountryand  «linibiiig  stfop  mountain  sides  to  heights  «f  2.<)(lii  iiml  a..5(10  feet 
•hove  sea  level,  and  wliicli  extt^id  as  far  west  as  Kadiak  Island,  being  a  con- 
tinuous stretdi  of  a  thousand  miles. 

They  consist  mainly  of  spruce,  hemlock,  and  cedar,  one  variety  of  the  lat- 
ter, the  yellow,  being  very  valuable  in  the  construction  of  Huiiill  vessels  on 
account  of  its  durable  qualities. 

The  commerce  of  AlasKa  is  and  doubtless  always  will  be  carried  on  by  water, 
owing  to  the  peculiar  formation  of  the  country ;  and  being  so  varied  and  largely 
conducted  by  nonresidents  and  by  vessels  nailing  from  so  many  different 
ports,  it  is  difficult  to  olttain  an  exact  idea  of  its  extent.  The  internal  com- 
merce is  carried  on  through  about  1^  agencies,  locuted  in  101  towns  and  set- 
tlement.s.  situated  along  its  coast  and  among  its  islands. 

The  exiK>rt8  consist  mainly  of  furs,  ivory,  Indian  curios,  gold  and  silver  bul- 
lion and  ore,  and  the  products  of  the  whale,  ccmI,  and  salmon  fisheries. 

Daring  the  earlier  occui)aucy  of  tlie  country  its  commerce  depended  almost 
•zclusively  on  the  fur  trade,  l)nt  since  other  imlustries  depi-naent  upon  the 
actual  necessities  of  man  sprung  up  this  important  factor,  although  of  great 
value,  has  already  fallen  to  a  third  pla<re  in  unijortanco.  Prom  1»68  to  1H91 
the  total  value  of  the  furs  exported  is  estimated  at  i.'*i).l:24..'iO(),  and  the  annual 
yield  for  the  last-mentioned  year  amounted  to  alxmt  J1,0().'>.(KI(). 

In  1892  there  were  sixteen  gold  and  silver  mines  in  operation,  and  up  to  that 
date  the  total  output  amounted  to  about  $(i,00(),UKI.  The  traffic  dependent  npon 
the  necessities  of  the  small  army  already  engaged  in  this  comparatively  new 
enterprise  is  considerable  and  will  undoubtedly  increase. 

The  salmon  industry  commenced  in  iMTtJ.aud  from  that  date  up  to  1890  the 
p«.ck  had  amounted  to  $U.Ol:J,UK».  In  187M  the  entire  product  was  valued  at 
160,416,  while  that  of  IHUU  nas  $:.>,73l,000.  Tlie  salmon  tanning  industry  of  this 
country  is  confined  to  the  waters  of  California,  Oregon,  Washington,  and 
Alaska.  In  years  past  the  Columbia  River  lias  been  the  principal  source  of 
supply,  but  the  run  in  all  the  sections  south  of  British  Columbia  has  become 
smaller  from  year  to  year.  In  the  year  18H7  the  total  pack  for  the  entire 
Pacific  Coast  was  OtlK.aw  cases,  of  which  the  Columbia  River  furnished  430,(100. 
In  1890  the  output  of  the  western  coast  was  about  l,'iZ\,'XKi  cases,  of  which 
Alaska  alone  furnished  t)HH.:!2'~',  or  more  than  half  the  entire  product  of  the 
United  States.  The  capital  invested  in  the  Alaska  sjilnion  fisheries,  including 
permanent  improvements,  vessels,  etc.,  is  something  more  than  $4,000,000. 
There  were,  in  1890,  37  <!anneries  Iwtween  Dixon  Entrance  and  Bristol  Bay, 
26  of  which  are  west  of  Sitka,  and  about  0,000  persons  were  employed  during 
the  fishing  season,  using  (id  vessels  for  the  purpose. 

Judging  from  the  rate  of  in<!rea8e  during  the  past  ten  years  and  the  enor- 
mous nela  yet  to  be  developed,  the  commerce  deiiending  upon  this  single  in- 
dustry will  be  one  of  the  most  notable  interests  of  the  Puciffc  Coast.  Three- 
fourths  of  it  is  now  bey<md  the  rei^ion  reconiioitered.and  is  rapidly  crowding 
northward  into  unchartered  localities  en<  >rm(  lusly  rich  in  fish.  It  is  interest- 
ing to  note  that  the  two  newer  industries,  mining  and  salmon  fishing,  have 
grown  so  rapidly  that  while  in  1880  both  thes^e  industries  were  insignificant 
and  completely  overshadowed  by  the  fur  trade,  by  18ilO  their  products 
amounted  in  value  to  $16,000,000,  or  more  than  twice  the  purchase  price  of  the 
Territory. 

The  Pacific  and  Arctic  whaling  catch,  though  not  confined  strictly  to  Alas- 
kan waters,  is  conducted  by  American  vessels,  and  all  but  a  very  small  per- 
centage of  it  is  secured  in  waters  contiguous  to  the  Alaskan  coast.  The  total 
value  of  oil,  lM>ne,  and  ivory  of  the  catch  Iwtween  1874  and  1890  was  $11,304,- 
466.  There  are  about  fifty  vessels  engaged  in  this  industry,  their  port  of  call 
being  Port  Clarence.  The  charts  of  the  tracks  and  rendezvous  of  these  ves- 
sdbs  are  simply  compilations  of  early  explorations  and  are  very  crude  and 
InacGorate. 

Of  the  food  fish  of  Alaska  the  cod-fish  stand  next  in  commercial  importance 
to  the  salmon,  The  eastern  part  of  Bering  Sea  is  a  groat  reservoir  of  cod,  and 
the  area  within  the  limits  of  60  fathoms  dei)th  is  no  less  than  18.000  square 
miles.  In  this  sea  fishing  must  bo  done  as  it  is  off  Newfoundland,  without 
harbors  of  refuge,  but  in  a  much  less  d('i)th  of  water.  The  fishing  lianks  along 
the  south  shores  of  the  Aleutian  cliaia  will  add  about  4.'>,(HK)  more  square 
miles,  making  a  total  of  03,000  square  miles,  this  being  about  four  times  tho 

1868 


areaof  the  banks  in  the  reffion  of  Newfoundland.  Though  over  twenty  ve»ra 
have  elapsed  sinre  the  Inception  of  this  industry,  it  must  still  be  consiaered 
In  its  infancy.  The  value  of  the  catch  durine  the  last  twenty-seven  years 
has  amounU-d  to  about  $8,«)0,000.  It  is  earned  on  without  regard  to  the 
abundant  supply,  but  solely  in  accordance  with  the  demands  of  toe  local  and 
limited  market  on  the  Pacific  coast  of  America. 

It  is  evident,  with  the  numerous  transcontinental  railways  and  with  the  in- 
crcjising population  along  their  lines  and  growing  tributaries,  that  the  demand 
will  constantly  and  pornianently  increase,  so  that  this  interest  will  alone 
crowd  the  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  Alaska  and  Bering  Sea  with  sails. 

In  this  report  too  much  stress  is  not  laid  on  the  importance  of 
the  fishing  Industry  alone,  and  this  will  be  appreciated  if  we  reflect 
that  a  great  historical  fact  has  been  epitomized  in  the  statement 
that  "Amsterdam  is  built  on  herring  bones." 

Sundry  questions  have  arisen  to  cause  grave  solicitude  and 
anxiety  on  the  subject  of  the  lx)undary  line.  It  has  even  been  inti- 
mated to  me  that  there  is  a  strong  probability  that  some  conflict 
or  strife  may  take  place  between  the  miners  I  have  referred  to  or 
the  others  who  are  en-'Reed  in  taking  in  supplies  and  those  who 
would  collect  duties  from  them  on  the  frimtier. 

Mr.  President,  I  believe  that  this  question  is  an  important  one; 
even  more  important,  perhaps,  than  the  decision  of  the  Venezuelan 
boundary,  because  this  question  relates  to  the  boundaries  of  our 
own  country.  It  relates  to  peace  between  our  own  citizens  and 
the  citizens  of  tlie  adjoining  British  Possessions.  In  my  judgment, 
it  is  the  duty  of  this  Congress  to  facilitate  in  every  proper  way  the 
adjustment  of  the  question  relating  to  this  boundary  line. 

It  may  be  appropriate  to  give  here  a  brief  sketch  of  the  history 
of  the  boundary  survey.  In  1872  General  Grant,  then  President 
of  the  United  States,  anticipating  that  a  postponement  of  the  defi- 
nite marking  of  the  boundary  might  involve  future  disputes,  rec- 
ommended in  his  annual  message  the  creation  of  a  commission 
for  setthng  the  boundary  line.  But  the  matter  was  allowed  to 
drop,  and  nothing  was  done  until  President  Cleveland,  about  fif- 
teen years  later,  again  brought  the  subject  forward  by  a  reference 
to  it  in  his  message. 

In  1887  the  Department  of  State  inserted  an  item  of  $100,000  in 
the  estimates  for  a  preliminary  survey  of  the  boundary,  but  on 
this  item  no  action  was  taken. 

In  1888,  however,  an  appropriation  of  $20,000  was  made  for  a 
preliminary  survey,  to  be  conducted  by  the  Coast  and  Geodetic 
Survey  in  accordance  with  projects  to  be  approved  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  State.  Under  this  act  two  parties  were  organized  in  the 
spring  of  1889  to  ascend  the  Yukon  and  its  affluent,  the  Porcu- 
pine, to  determine  by  astronomical  observations  the  intersection 
of  the  one  hundred  and  forty-first  meridian  with  these  rivers. 
The  party  on  the  Porcupine  accomplished  its  purpose  during  the 
following  winter,  while  the  party  on  the  Yukon  was  compelled 
by  adverse  circumstances  to  spend  two  winters  there. 

Small  appropriations  were  annually  made  under  the  same  word- 
ing as  the  act  of  October  2,  1HS8,  referred  to  above,  until  the  year 
18132.  when  a  convention  was  concluded  at  Washington,  on  July 
22,  18D2,  for  ctmducting  a  coincident  or  joint  survey  "'with  a  view 
to  the  aac(!rtainment  of  the  facts  and  data  nccj.'ssary  to  the  per- 
manent delimitation  of  said  boundary  line,"  that  is,  from  latitude 
54 '  40'  north  to  the  point  where  it  encounters  the  one  hundred 
and  forty-first  meridian  west  of  (Greenwich. 

Under  this  convention  commissioners  were  appointed  by  the 
Governments  of  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  respectively. 
'  VKB- 


It  was  prescribed  that  the  commissioners  should  complete  their 
duties  within  two  years  from  the  date  of  their  first  meeting,  but 
as  this  was  found  impracticable  the  time  was  extended  to  E^em- 
ber  81, 1895,  by  supplementary  convention  of  February  3, 1894. 

The  total  amount  appropriated  under  this  convention  was  $60,- 
000,  and  the  surveys  were  conducted  on  behalf  of  the  United 
States  under  the  direction  of  the  Sui)erintendents  of  the  Coast  and 
Geodetic  Survey. 

The  Alaskan  boundary  is  conveniently  divisible  into  two  sec- 
tions: The  first  where  it  follows  the  contour  of  the  coast  from 
the  southernmost  point  of  Prince  of  Wales  Island  until  it  strikes 
the  one  hundre<l  and  forty-first  meridian  at  or  near  the  summit 
of  Mount  St.  Ellas;  the  second  where  it  is  formed  by  the  one 
hundred  and  forty-first  meridian,  which  it  follows  from  that 
intersecting  point  to  the  frozen  ocean. 

The  determination  of  the  exact  limits  of  the  first  coastwise  sec- 
tion is  in  progress,  or  has  been  in  progress  until  recently,  through 
a  preliminary  survey  by  American  and  British  expeditions  acting 
separately  or  coincideutally,  as  convenience  might  dictate,  under 
the  provisions  of  the  convention  of  July  23,  1892,  and  the  supple- 
mentary convention  of  February  3,  1894,  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain.  The  object  of  this  preliminary  survey 
has  been  to  obtain  for  the  information  of  their  respective  (Jovem- 
ments  affirmative  data  from  which  they  may  by  conventional 
agreement  determine  the  true  boundary  described  in  the  Anglo- 
Russian  treaty  of  1825,  and  redescribed  in  the  first  article  of  the 
treaty  between  the  United  States  and  Russia  of  March,  1867, 
whereby  the  Russian  territory  of  Alaska  was  ceded  to  this 
country. 

As  before  stated,  this  preliminary  examination  had  been  taking 
place  until  the  3l8t  day  of  December,  1895,  to  which  date  it  was 
extended  by  supplementary  convention  of  February  3,  1894.  It 
seems  that,  referring  to  the  President's  message,  a  further  exten- 
sion of  time  will  be  necessary,  as  well  as  an  additional  appropria- 
tion for  the  completion  of  this  work. 

It  has  been  erroneously  stated  in  the  public  prints,  as  I  am  in- 
formed upon  good  authority,  that  some  agreement  has  been  signed 
by  the  respective  commissioners  in  the  past  few  days.  This  seems 
to  be  a  misapprehension.  These  commissioners  were  not  created 
for  the  purpose  of  coming  to  any  agreement.  They  had  no  power 
relative  to  coming  to  any  such  agreement  so  as  to  bind  their 
Governments.  They  were  simply  to  examine  and  report  for  the 
information  of  their  respective  Governments,  and  to  furnish 
the  neces.sary  data  to  afford  the  basis  for  a  treaty  between  the 
United  States  and  Great  Britain  relative  to  the  southeastern 
boundary  of  Alaska.  I  doubt  not  there  should  be  an  appro- 
priation for  the  continuation  of  the  work  of  the  commission, 
and  I  believe  it  is  expected  that  the  present  commission  will  be 
continued  by  a  convention  between  the  two  Governments  ex- 
tending the  term  of  its  existence  and  its  labors. 

As  the  Alaskan  coast  is  steadily  becoming  settled  and  an  exten- 
sive development  of  interests  of  great  maguitudo  is  taking  place, 
it  seems  needful  that  provision  be  made  for  the  settlement  of  both 
these  boundary  questions.  The  second  (luestion,  and  tlie  one  to 
which  tlie  joint  resolution  refers  more  particularly,  is  in  relation 
to  the  one  hundred  and  forty-first  meridian.  It  seems  as  to  thia 
i%» 


\ 


i 


f 

that  bU  the  preliminaries  are  completed,  so  that  a  conventional 
agreement  can  now  he  made  between  the  United  S'  .tesand  Great 
Britain.  The  theoretical  existence  of  this  boundary  on  the  one 
hundred  and  forty-first  meridian  is  an  undoubted  fact,  and  is  not 
at  all  in  question,  but  the  physical  location  of  the  boundary  line 
remains  to  be  established.  I  am  informed  by  those  who  have 
given  this  subject  great  attention  that  the  ascertainment  of  a 
given  meridian  at  any  ^ven  point  is  a  work  depending  upon  the 
precision  of  the  scientihc  instruments  employed  and  the  accuracv 
of  the  astronomical  and  geodetic  observation,  so  that  it  needs  much 
time  and  care  to  reduce  the  remaining  amount  of  error  to  so  small 
a  degfree  that  it  will  be  practically  immateriiil  and  of  no  conse- 
quence. Such  observations  and  surveys  were  undertaken  by  the 
United  States  Coast  and  GK^odetic  Survey  in  1890  and  1891,  and  the 
points  where  the  one  hundred  and  forty-first  meridian  crosses  the 
Yukon  River,  also  where  it  intersects  Forty  Mile  Creek,  and 
again  where  it  passes  by  the  summit  of  Mount  St.  Elias,  have  been 
marked  with  some  decree  of  accuracy.    Similar  surveys  in  some 

auarters  under  British  auspices  are  believed  to  give  nearly  coinci- 
ent  results.  I  am  informed  that  there  is  a  difference  of  perhaps 
not  more  than  450  feet  between  the  location  by  the  respective  Gov- 
ernments on  the  Yukon  River  where  that  is  intersected  by  the  one 
hundred  and  forty-first  meridian,  and  that  there  is  but  a  slight 
difference  at  the  intersection  of  the  meridian  with  what  is  known 
as  Forty  Mile  Creek,  where  active  mining  operations  are  con- 
ducted. 

It  seems  to  be  practicable  to  reach  an  agreement  along  this  line, 
inasmuch  as  the  difference  is  so  slight.  These  surveys  by  the 
respective  Governments  have  been  independently  conducted,  and 
no  international  agreement  has  yet  been  made  to  mark  those 
or  any  other  parts  of  the  one  hundred  and  forty-first  meridian 
bypermanent  monuments. 

The  going  in  of  the  uxiners  and  the  development  of  the  country 
has  been  such  that  the  valley  of  the  Yukon  is  becoming  a  high- 
way through  the  hitherto  unexplored  wilds  of  Alaska.  This  re- 
gion has  great  mineral  resoui'ces  recently  discovert-d,  especially 
at  or  near  the  jiniction  of  the  boundary  meridian  with  the  Yukon 
and  its  tributaries.  What  is  known  as  the  Porcupine  River  is 
another  of  the  tributaries  upon  which  surveys  have  been  made. 
The  outposts  of  civilization  and  enterprise  are  springing  up,  and 
under  these  circumstances  it  seems  exceedingly  important,  and, 
indeed,  necessary  that  the  jurisdictional  limits  of  the  respective 
(Jovernuients  in  this  new  region  should  be  determined.  It  is 
understood  that  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  Government  has  already 
proposed  a  joint  delimitation  of  the  one  hundred  and  forty-first 
meridian  by  an  international  commission  of  experts,  and  if  Con- 

?;ress  should  create  this  commission,  and  make  provision  thero- 
or,  the  necessary  result  can  be  accomplished  with  no  unreasonable 
delay  by  means  of  the  convention  which  is  contemplated  to  that 
end. 

I  fear  that  there  has  been  at  times  a  degree  of  indistinctness  in 
the  conception  of  my  fellow-citizens  in  regard  to  the  Alaskan 
boundary  question.  There  has  been  a  mixing  of  the  two  separate 
and  distinct  ciuestions,  the  one  relating  to  the  one  hundred  and 
forty-first  meridian  and  the  other  relating  to  the  line  starting  from 
the  southernmost  end  of  Princeof  Wales  Island  and  following  along 

1»68 


8 


the  contour  of  the  coast  (I  mean  the  mainland),  at  a  distance  of 
not  more  than  80  geographical  miles  from  the  ocean.  There  has 
been  a  degree  of  ancertainty  and  confusion  in  the  public  mind  on 
this  subject — a  commingling  of  the  questions.  They  are  easily 
separated.  The  question  that  is  dealt  with  in  the  joint  resolution 
I  have  introduced,  this  morning  relates  solely  to  the  boundary  line 
along  the  one  hundred  and  forty-first  meridian.  As  to  the  other 
question,  I  understand  that  the  examination  which  has  been  made 
by  the  commission  in  reference  to  southeastern  Alaska  is  purely 
preliminary  and  relates  principally  to  the  character  and  descrip- 
tion of  the  region. 

The  people  of  the  city  in  which  I  reside  have  recently  forwarded 
to  me  a  verv  carefully  prepared  report,  going  into  the  history  of 
this  whole  Alaskan  boundary  question.  It  shows  the  interest  of 
my  people  in  this  question.  It  has  been  prepared  with  much  care 
and  research.  I  deem  it  to  be  of  ^eat  value  and  interest  at  the 
present  time,  when  this  subject  is  so  prominent  in  the  public 
mind.  I  believe  there  is  one  error  in  the  paper  toward  the  close, 
in  which  it  is  stated  that  it  is  understood  that  the  reports  provided 
for  by  the  convention  referred  to  "have  been  submitted  to  the  re- 
spective Governments  and  await  further  action,  in  pursuance  of 
the  terms  of  the  convention  of  1892  and  the  supplemental  conven- 
tion of  1894."  The  roport  of  the  commission  may  have  been  pre- 
sented to  the  Canadian  Government,  but  I  have  to-day  learned  that 
it  has  not  yet  been  presented  to  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  and,  as  I  before  stated,  this  report  can  only  present  data 
for  the  information  of  the  respective  Governments,  upon  which, 
when  the  entire  examination  shall  be  comj)leted,  the  two  nations 
may  be  duly  advised,  ho  us  to  enable  thera  more  intelligently  to 
enter  into  a  treaty.  With  the  exception  of  this  paragraph,  i  be- 
lieve the  representations  set  forth  in  tho  following  report  are 
mainly  correct.  I  ask  that  the  report  which  was  made  by  a  com- 
mittee of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  Seattle  be  appended  and 
made  part  of  my  remarks. 

The  VICE-PRESIDENT.  It  will  be  so  ordered,  without  objeo- 
tion. 

The  paper  referred  to  is  as  follows: 

ALASKAN  BOUNDABY— SUPPLEMENTAL  REPORT. 

To  the  Board  op  Trubtkes, 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  Seattle,  Wash. 

Gentlemen:  Since  the  report  submitted  to  your  honorable  body  nndar 
date  of  April  1, 18It5,  the  (committee  has  pursued  its  search  for  further  infor- 
mation which  would  tend  to  assist  the  (lovcruuiont  of  the  United  States  to 
firmly  maintain  the  inteRrity  of  our  Alaslcan  possessions.  The  boundary  line 
of  the  United  States  of  America  and  the  Uoniinion  of  Canada  dividing  the 
Territory  of  Alaska  from  the  Province  of  British  Columbia  and  the  North- 
west Territory  of  Canada  has,  by  reas(»n  of  its  extraordinary  length,  devel- 
oped two  subjects  for  investisjatio'i.  wliioh  may  bo  pursued  and  determined 
separately,  while  the  permanent  delimitation  of  the  entire  boundary  Involves 
the  satisfactory  settlement  of  ouoh.  The  one  comprehends  the  physical  loca- 
tion of  the  one  hundred  and  forty-flrst  meridian  as  produced  northwardly 
from  Mount  St.  Ellas  to  the  frozen  ocean. 

The  controversy  over  the  above-mentioned  part  of  the  boundary  has,  by 
the  separate  efforts  of  the  Governments  of  the  United  States  and  Canada, 
been  brought  more  nearly  to  a  determination  than  that  ever  southeastern 
Alaska,  aiid  which,  it  appears  to  the  committee,  will  bo  attended  with  more 
vexatious  incidents.    This  report,  therefore,  is  submitted  in  support  of  the 


1 


eastern  boundary  of  the  strip  which  b»Kins  south  of  Mount  St.  Klias  and  runs 
southeasterly  as  far  as  Portland  Channel,  and  which  boundary  it  is  emphati- 
cally ctmtended  has  Iweu  conceded  l)y  t 'iiiuida  for  more  than  sixty  years,  and 


ecrtainly,  as  far  as  the  investigation  of  the  committee  has  extended,  has  never 
been  questioned  by  that  Goverumeut  until  comparatively  a  recent  date. 

1958 


9 


It  is  necessary,  for  a  dear  nnderstandingof  the  points  at  issne,  to  carefnllr 
peruse  the  description  of  the  boundary  lino  an  expreflsly  doflned  in  Article  X 
of  the  convention  concluded  March  80, 1867,  between  the  United  States  of 
America  and  Bossla.  The  line  of  demarcation  as  set  forth  therein  la  as 
follows: 

"ARTTOI.B  I. 

"His  Majesty  the  Emperor  of  all  the  Russian  afirr^^cs  to  cede  to  the  United 
States,  by  tliis  convpntion,  Immediately  ui)on  tho  exrhimijo  of  the  ratifications 
therei>f.  all  tho  territory  and  dominion  now  possessed  by  his  said  Majesty  on 
the  continent  of  America  and  in  the  adjacent  islands,  the  same  being  con- 
tained  within  the  creographical  limits  herein  set  forth,  to  wit:  The  eastern 
limit  is  the  line  of  demarcation  between  the  Russian  and  the  British  posses- 
sions in  North  America  as  established  by  the  convention  between  Russia  and 
Great  Britain  of  Pehruarv  aS-lO,  182.5,  and  described  in  Articles  III  and  IV  of 
said  convention  in  the  f<jlIowine  terms: 

"  *  Coinmencinsf  from  the  southernmost  point  of  the  Island  railed  Prince  of 
Wales  Island,  which  point  lies  in  the  parallol  of  iVl°  40'  north  latitude,  and  be- 
tween the  one  hundred  and  thirty-first  and  tho  one  hundred  and  thirty-third 
degree  of  west  longitude  (meridian  of  Greenwich),  the  said  line  shall  ascend  to 
the  north  along  the  channel  called  Portland  Channel  as  far  as  the  point  of  the 
continent  where  it  strikes  the  fifty-sixth  degree  of  north  latitude;  from  this 
last-mentioned  point  the  line  of  demaiTti"n  shall  follow  the  summit  of  the 
mountains  situated  parallel  t'-.  the  coast  ut,  ':<.••  an  the  point  of  intersection  of 
the  one  hundred  and  forty-first  decree  of  v  u  ■  ■'  longitude  (of  the  same  merid- 
ian), and  finally,  from  tho  said  point  of  interjection,  the  s«iid  meridian  line 
of  the  one  hundred  and  forty-first  degrea,  in  its  prolongation  as  far  as  the 
frozen  ocean. 

" '  IV.  With  reference  to  the  line  of  (,  imarciition  laid  down  in  the  preceding 
article,  it  is  understood— 

"  ■  First.  That  tho  island  called  Prince  of  W  iles  island  shall  belong  wholly 
to  Rus.sia,'  (now,  by  this  cession,  to  the  Unit  >■;  States). 

"  Second.  That  wlienever  the  summit  't  t!i>  ;n>iuutains  which  extend  In  a 
direction  parallel  to  the  coast  from  the  iil  6y  sixth  tlegroe  of  north  latitude  to 
the  point  of  intersei^tion  of  the  ono  liundi*"  d  and  forty-first  degree  of  west 
longitude  shall  prove  to  \ie  at  a  distance  ot  iinire  than  10  marine  leagues  from 
the  ocean,  the  limit  between  tho  British  pos-sc^^icms  and  the  line  of  coast  which 
is  to  belong  to  Knssia  as  above  menti'med  (that  is  to  say.  the  limit  to  the  pos- 
sessions coded  by  this  convention)  shall  be  formed  by  a  lino  parallel  to  the 
winding  of  the  coast,  and  which  shiiil  never  exceed  the  distan(;u  ot  10  marine 
leagues  therefrom.'"— f/dtfed  StaO-a  .'^tatufes  at  Large,  volume  16,  pages 
539.540. 

The  wording  of  the  description  of  the  boundary  line,  as  a1)ove  given,  is 
identical  with  that  contained  in  tho  convention  bi-tweon  Russia  and  Great 
Britain  of  February  :iS-lt».  lH:i5,  in  Articles  III  and  IV  ther(M)f,  save  the  follow 
Ing  words  '(now,  by  this  cession,  to  the  United  States),"  which  oc(!urs  in  tho 
first  paragraph  of  Arti<!le  IV  above. 

The  diplomatic  lauf^uage  used  in  tho  Russi.-vn-Ent'lish  convention  of  1885  is 
here  given,  in  order  that  the  accuracy  of  the  translation  may  bo  compared, 
and  is  as  follows: 

"Ahticlb  in. 

"  La  ligno  de  domarcjition  ontn?  Ics  Possessions  des  Hautes  Parties  contrac- 
tantes  sur  la  cote  du  continent  et  les  iles  de  1"  Amcirinue  nord-ouest,  sera  trac6e 
ainsi  qu'il  suit: 

"  'A  partir  du  point  le  plus  meridional  do  Tile  dito  Prince  of  Wales,  lenuel 
point  se  trouve  sous  la  )iaralU^le  du  .'>4  degr6  40  minutes  do  latitude  nord,  et 
entrelo  lllletlollW  degre  de  longitude  ouest  (meridien  de  Greenwich).  La 
dite  ligne  remontera  au  nord  le  long  de  la  passe  dite  Portland  Channel,  jus- 
qu"au  point  de  la  torre  ferine  ou  elli?  atteint  le  5rt  degr6  latitude  nord;  de  ce 
dernier  point,  la  ligne  de  deniarcati  >n  suivra  la  crete  des  montagnes  situ6es 
paralli^lenient  d,  la  cote,  justjuau  point  d'intersection  du  141  degi-e  de  longi- 
tude oui'st  (meme  meridien);  et,  flnaloment,  du  dit  point  d'intersection  la 
raeme  li^fneniMridiennedu  141  dcarre  formera  dans  son  prolongement  jusqu'A 
la  Mer  tilaciale  la  limite  entro  les  Possessions  Russes  et  Britanniques  sur  le 
continent  do  rAmeriijue  nord-ouest.' 

"AriTirLE  rV. 

"  II  est  ontendu,  par  rapport  H  la  ligne  do  demarcation  determin6e  dana 
I'Article  precedent: 

••'1.  Quo  I'ilo  dite  Priu.  3  of  Wales  appartiondra  touto  entidro  &  la  Russie. 

'•  '2.  Que  partout  ou  la  crete  des  inonta'.'nes  qui  s'etendent  dans une  direc- 
tion parallme  A  la<:ote  depuis  le  M  il.'Rro  de  latitude  nord  au  point  d'inter- 
section du  141  degre  de  longitude  o.i<v,\  se  trouverait  &  la  distance  de  pins 
de  10  lieues  marines  do  I'ocuan.  la  limite  entre  les  Possessions  Britanniques  et 

1958 


10 


laUsMre  d«  c6te  mentiorntoci-deaaus  comme  devant  appurtenir  k  la  Bossle, 
■era  f orm6e  par  one  ligu  .  paralldle  auz  sinuositto  de  la  cote  et  qui  ne  poorra 
Jamais  en  dtre  ^loifm^e  que  de  10  lieues  marines.' " 

The  sabject  of  the  controversy  between  Russia  and  Oreat  Britain  which 
colminated  in  the  convention  of  1825,  above  referred  to,  was  the  celebrated 
ukase  of  September  4,  1821,  issued  by  the  Emperor  Alexander,  and  which 
prohiUted  foreign  vessels  not  only  from  landing  upon  the  coasts  and  islands 
of  the  northwest  belonging  to  Russia,  but  also  the  coast  and  islands  of  Hibe- 
rla,  or  to  approach  them  in  lens  than  100  Italian  miles.  It  was  intended  to 
protect  all  commerce,  whaling,  and  fishery  at  such  places  from  foreign  com- 
petition,  as  an  exclusive  franchise,  in  all  such  industries  at  such  places,  was 
thereby  granted  to  Russian  subjects. 

Mention  is  here  made  of  this  ukase  because  of  the  diplomatic  correspondence 
which  ensued  and  was  carried  on  for  several  years  between  the  Britibh  and 
Bussian  Qovemments,  in  which  the  settlement  of  this  identical  boundary 
line  was  the  most  prominent  subject  of  the  controversy. 

Throughout  this  most  interrsting  correspondence  the  Intent  of  the  high 
oontracting  parties  is  clearly  and  unmistakably  laid  bare  as  to  the  physical 
location  of  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  Alaskan  strip,  and  when  read  together 
with  the  description  set  forth  above,  annihilates  the  pretensions  of  Canada 
to  any  of  the  canals,  bays,  or  inlets  to  which  claims  are  now  being  set  up. 

The  alleged  claims  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada  to  portions  of  the  Alaskan 
■trip  arises,  first,  from  the  strained  construction  given  to  the  description  of 
the  Doundary  line  as  hereinabove  set  forth;  and,  second,  from  a  real  or  pre- 
tended  belief  in  the  existence  of  a  fact  which  is  emphatically  controverted 
hj  the  engineers  of  the  United  States. 

CANADIAN  CLAIMS. 

The  Parliamentary  papers  and  the  leading  journals  of  the  Dominion  of 
Canada,  and  particularly  of  the  Province  of  British  Columbia,  vigorously 
contend,  in  support  of  the  construction  referred  to,  that- 
First.  That  "Behm  Canal,"  and  not  "Portland  Canal,"  is  the  channel  in- 
tended through  which  thu  boundary  line  commencing  at  the  southornmost 
portion  of  Prmce  of  Wales  Island  "shall  ascend  to  the  north  *  *  *  as  far 
as  the  point  of  the  continent  where  it  strikes  the  fifty-sixth  degree  of  north 
latitude." 

Second.  That  the  eastern  boundary  line,  in  its  extension  from  the  point 
where  it  strikes  the  fifty-sixth  degree  of  north  latitude,  shall  follow  an  al- 
leged range  of  mountains,  arbitrarily  crossing  and  cutting  off  the  heads  of 
bays  and  inlets  the  ownership  of  wuich  by  the  United  States  has  hitherto 
been  unquestioned. 

Tnird.  That  the  said  eastern  boundary  line  is  not  a  line  following  the  sin- 
uosities of  the  coast,  and  giving  to  the  terms  "  windiiit^s  of  the  coast "  an  in- 
terpretation which  concedes  to  British  Columbia  not  only  parts  of  the  inland 
waters,  but  a  large  area  of  the  most  valuable  portions  of  the  coast-line  strip 
known  as  southeastern  Alaska. 

Fourth.  That  neither  Portland  nor  Bohm  Canal  was  named  when  the 
British-Rusaian  convention  of  18:J5  was  acted  upon. 

That  these,  among  other  points  inimical  to  the  proprietorship  of  the  United 
States,  are  vigorously  contended  for  by  the  uress  of  Canada  and  are  sup- 
ported by  somiofflcial  utterances  may  be  safely  inferred  from  the  following 
lacts: 

Twenty  of  the  mounted  police  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada  parsed  through 
the  city  of  Seattle  last  July  to  enforce  customs  regulations  of  that  Qovera- 
ment  in  Alaska. 

Mr.  William  Ogil vie,  the  well-known  Canadian  surveyor,  and  who  had  charge, 
In  part,  of  the  c<)ri)s  of  engineers  engaged  in  the  "  joint  or  cointiidont  survey" 
hereinafter  spoken  of,  is  ciuutcd  as  to  the  boundary  line  through  "Portland 
Canal"  as  follows:  "This,  by  the  way,  •  •  *  isobj«^cted  toby  the  Province 
of  British  Columbia,  and  with  rea.son,  for  in  strict  conformity  with  the  word- 
ingof  the  orticle  of  the  treaty  a  northerly  line  from  the  southernmost  point 
of  Prince  of  Wales  Island  would  never  reach  Portland  Canal  at  all,  but  would 
go  up  the  channel  known  as  Bohm  Canal." 

Provincial  Premier  Turner  (Province  of  British  Columbia),  In  a  recently 
published  Interview,  says:  "  Prom  what  I  learned  during  my  stay  in  England, 
it  is  plain  to  mo  that  if  something  is  not  done  Immediiitiy  this  country  [Can- 
ada] runs  a  great  risk  of  losing  forever  a  great  and  valuable  block  of  terri- 
tory that  was  stipulated  as  being  part  of  British  America  at  tlie  time  of  the 
enactment  of  the  British-RuHsia!!  treaty  of  lHa">.  The  Americans  liave  quietly 
issued  maps  in  w  hich  this  territory,  iti  reality  belonging  to  Canada  as  much 
as  historic  Quebec,  is  represented  as  forming  part  of  Alaska,  and,  sorry  to 
say,  some  of  our  own  map  makers  have  fallen  into  the  snare,  and,  taking  it  for 
granted  that  the  Americau  claim  is  a  valid  one,  have  '  oorreoted '  Canadian 
maps  accordingly." 

1868 


i 


11 


i 


The  very  latept  official  map  of  the  Proviuco  of  British  Columbia,  iasaed 
under  goveruiueutul  authority  and  purportiiiK  to  be  cuiupilud  uuder  direc- 
tion of  Hon.  Q.  B.  Martin,  chief  commissioner  of  lands  and  works  at  Victoria, 
British  Columbia,  shows  the  boundary  line  as  proceeding;  up  thro'.t!.b  Behm 
Canal,  and,  further,  places  in  British  Columbia  the  heads  of  the  .uost  valu- 
able bays  and  inlets  and  an  area  of  valuable  territory  heretofore  regarded  aa 
and  tacitly  conceded  by  Canada  to  be  the  possessions  of  the  United  States,  a 
part  of  which  has  been  the  subject  of  recent  special  legislation  by  our  Federal 
Government. 

The  committee  has  earnestly  and  diligently  endeavored  to  ascertain  upon 
what  sound  reasoning  these  pretensions  are  founded  and  in  what  mann<'r  the 
Donunion  of  Cniiaducun  logurnliy  establish  its  claim  to  this  rich  territory,  as 
said  claim  is  manifested  by  othcial  maps  and  the  foregoing  a.s8ertious. 

An  exhaustive  examination  of  the  evidi^ice  tliat  is  material  or  relevant, 
which  the  committee  has  been  able  to  obtain,  loads  to  the  conclusion  that 
these  claijns,  with  the  exception  hereinafter  mentioned,  are  founded  on 
neither  fact  nor  reason,  and  that  the  controversy,  when  once  clearly  under- 
stood, will  be  in  a  great  measure  stripped  of  its  perplexities.  The  exception 
referred  to  is  whet  ner  or  not  there  exists  a  range  of  mountains  "  which  extend 
in  a  direction  parallel  to  the  coast,  from  the  flf  ty-sixth  degree  of  north  latitude 
to  the  point  of  intersection  of  the  one  hundred  and  forty-llrst  degree  of 
west  longitude,"  within  the  10  marine  league  limit. 

To  set  lorth  in  extenso  the  evidence  winch  in  the  Judgment  of  the  commit- 
tee would  establish  the  c<inclusion  that  the  Canadian  claims  are  untenable 
would  demand  a  report  of  too  great  length,  and  a  reference  to  the  same  will 
be  sufficient  to  invite  the  confluence  of  the  Chamber  in  its  reliability. 

First.  In  the  Hrst  place,  the  charts  and  inap.s  of  both  Qovernments,  for 
near  a  quarter  of  a  century,  show  the  lK)Uiidiiry  line  is  drawn  thereon  to  fol- 
low the  sinuosities  of  the  coast,  equidistant  therefrom,  beginning  at  the  head 
of  Portland  Canal  and  reaching  to  Mount  St.  Elias;  and  that  this  line,  so 
drawn,  has  been  recognized  by  the  civilized  world  from  1826  to  about  1884, 
and  has  been  so  recognized  by  British  Columbia  on  the  official  maps  of  that 
Government  as  late  as  the  date  last  mentioned. 

Second.  That  this  line  was  so  recognized  at  the  time  Alaska  was  pur- 
chased by  the  United  States  from  Russia  in  1H«7,  and  United  Statt>s  troops 
were  soon  thereafter  stationed  at  Fort  Tongass,  at  the  mouth  of  Portland 
Canal,  and  United  States  customs  officials  maintained  at  said  point  as  late 
as  Ifv^it,  niictiiig  with  no  protest  from  the  Canadian  Government  or  other 
powers  of  the  world. 

Third.  Tliat  Behm  Canal  and  Portland  Canal  were  both  well  known  at  the 
time  of  the  convention  of  182.5  between  Great  Britain  and  Russia,  and  that 
Portland  Canal  was  so  named  by  that  eminent  British  navigator,  Capt.  George 
Vancouver,  in  ITiKJ,  and  was  one  of  the  subjects  of  diplomatic  correspondence 
between  Englaml  and  Russia  for  several  years  immediately  preceding  the 
cotivi'ntioii  I't  l.';i"). 

Fourth.  That  for  many  years  prior  to  the  purchase  of  Alaska  by  the  United 
States,  that  powerful  Engli.sh  commercial  institution,  the  Hudsim  Bay  Fur 
Company,  paid  the  Russian  Government  an  annual  stipend  for  the  privilege 
of  trading  m  the  very  inlets  tJ'.at  the  Dominion  of  Canada  now  claims;  that 
the  compact  iKstwoen  that  company  and  the  ttrst-uamed  Government  it  is  be- 
lieved can  be  found  among  the  Russian  archives. 

Fifth.  That  if  written  evidence  of  such  a  cimipact  can  not  be  found,  there 
are  now  living  witnesses  who  can  testify  that  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  paid 
the  annual  compt^nsation  referred  to  as  Uite  as  the  year  1867,  as  the  following 
letters  from  the  Rev.  William  Duncan  and  the  Indian  secretary  of  the  Metla- 
kahtla  Indians  will  show ; 

On  Boakd  City  or  Topeka,  Ai^ahkan  Watkus,  May  S, 1895, 

Before  leaving  home  for  a  trip  to  Sitka  I  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Miner 
Bruce,  the  exidorer,  asking  me  to  write!  you  any  particulars  I  might  happen 


t«  know  regarding  th 

Most  likely  the  littl 


<liu"<tiiui  of  the  boundary  between  Alaska  and  British 
information  I  have  on  the  subject  is  already 


Columbia.    ._ 

known  to  you,  but  it  can  do  no  harm  to  writt>  what  I  know. 

First.  In  186i  I  was  locat(Ml  at  Fort  Simpsoii,  and  was  in  constant  daily  in- 
tercourse with  the  officers  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Coiniiany,  who  had  a  monopoly 
of  tlie  country  at  that  time.  From  this  intercourse  I  learned  that  all  the 
country  north  of  Portland  Canal  lK>l(iiiged  to  Russia,  and  for  the  privilege  of 
trading  with  the  Indians  from  that  point,  and  as  far  as  Chilcat,  tiie  Hudson 
Bay  Commuy  paidarentto  theHus.siaii  Governmeiit  of  l.dOtlottMr  skins  each 
year.  It  is  not  at  all  likely  that  a  comiiany  of  such  i)roportions  as  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company  would  consent  to  pay  rent  for  territory  of  which  there  was 
uncertainty  as  to  ownership.  That  coinnany  would  most  assuredly  be  well 
acquainted  with  the  mujw  which  assignod  the  territory  to  Russia,  or  it  would 
liave  never  made  the  agreement  with  Russia  which  it  did.    Nor  did  those  o£* 

1058 


12 

fleers  during  all  the  years  I  was  in  dally  intercourse  with  them  ever  hint  at 
a  doubt  as  to  the  boundary  from  which  Russian  claims  started. 

Second.  I  have  known  lawbreakers  to  escape  to  Tongass  from  justice,  being, 
while  there,  out  of  the  jurisdiction  of  Britisn  Columbia. 

Third.  When  the  United  States  purchased  Alaska,  a  corps  of  soldiers  was 
stationed  at  Tongass  and  continued  there  for  years  in  undisputed  control. 

Fourth.  On  my  migrating  with  over  8()0  Indians  from  British  Columbia 
In  1887,  we  had  to  call  at  Fort  Tongass  and  give  an  account  of  our  belongings. 
I  paid  the  customs  ofllcers  overjfl,000  to  bring  my  goods  into  Alaska.  The 
customs  authorities  resided  at  Tongass,  just  over  the  inlet  called  Portland 
Canal. 

Yours,  truly,  WM.  DUNCAN. 

J.  B.  Metcaltb,  Esq.,  Seattle,  Wash. 


MsTIiAKAHTLA,  ALASKA,  Afay  SI,  1805. 

Dear  Sir:  Since  the  report  reached  us  of  the  controversy  which  is  going 
on  between  Canada  and  the  United  States  concerning  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween British  Columbia  and  Alaska,  we  have  met  to  discuss  the  matter. 

The  information  which  we  have  to  offer  on  the  subject  is: 

First.  When  we  left  our  old  liome  in  British  Columbia  we  wore  regarded 
as  foreigners  by  the  Canadian  authorities. 

Second.  In  the  summer  of  1887,  when  we  migrated  to  Alaska,  Port  Ton- 
gass, just  over  Portland  Inlet,  was  a  port  of  entry.  We  had  to  pay  duty  to  a 
custom-house  officer  residing  there  on  all  dutiable  articles  we  brouglit  over 
to  this  country. 

Third.  We  employed  three  small  steamers  to  convey  over  our  bolongings, 
one  of  which  the  custom-house  officer  at  Port  Simpson  tried  to  dotiiin  as 
coming  from  a  foreign  country.  We  liad  to  receive  our  clearance  papers  at 
Port  Simpson  before  coming  over  to  Alaska. 

Fouith.  Having  got  over  to  Annette  Island,  the  Canadian  Indian  agent  at 
Metliikalitla,  British  Columbia,  ceased  to  have  any  control  over  us,  wliich 
would  not  have  been  the  case  (such  was  the  animus  of  the  man)  if  the  bound- 
ary lino  had  been  doubtful. 
We  remain,  truly  yours, 

Thk  People  of  Metlakahtla,  Alaska, 
D.  LEASK,  Secretary. 

J.  B.  Metcalfe,  Esq.,  Seattle,  Wash. 

Sixth.  That  the  Rov.  Mr.  Duncan,  having  become  engaged  in  a  controversy 


with  his  religious  superiors  sent  out  to  overlook  his  charge  of  the  M<'tla 

ipeaii' ' 
himself  and  his  8iK>  Indians  away  from  their  control  or  molestation,  and  that 


kahtla  Indians,  aiipeali-d  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  for  a  haven  for 


by  an  act  of  Congress  approved  March  3,  l.s'.tl  (cliapt(fr  501,  section  15,  United 
States  Statutes  at  Large,  volume  3(1,  page  IMl),  Annette  Island  was  set  aside 
for  his  use.  ThenewMetlakahtlaisnowa  thriving  community,  with  churches 
and  schor)Is,  and  self-sustaining  industries  carried  on  by  these  Indians,  and 
that  Canada  had  not  at  that  time  announced  the  present  claim  or  any  claim 
to  this  island. 

Seventh.  That  it  can  be  shown  that  the  process  of  the  British  Columbia 
courts  were  never  attemptod  to  be  served  on  the  north  side  of  Portland  Ca- 
nal on  offenders  against  British  Columbia  laws. 

Eighth.  Tliat  it  is  conceded  by  the  press,  and  also  officials  of  British  Colum- 
bia, that  some  one  has  blundiM'od  and  that  the  official  maps  of  that  province, 
recognized  by  Canada,  have  to  l)e  "corrected."  and  say  that  "the  Dominion 
officials  have  followed,  sheep  like,  in  tlie  track  of  tlie  United  States  diplo- 
matists. Luckily,  their  stupidity  in  lazily  copying  the  blunder  of  the  pub- 
lic servants  of  the  United  States  did  not  legalize  wliat  is  manifestly  an  error. 
It  is  not  too  late  to  correct  tlii>  mistake  that  )ias  been  made."  Tlie  utterance 
of  Premier  Turner  is  to  tlie  same  effect,  "The  Canadians  will  have  to  repu- 
diate some  of  their  own  maps." 

The  foregoing  references  are  made  to  show  that  the  facts  therein  set  forth 
reasonal)Iy  constitute  a  tacit  admission  by  Canada  of  the  proprietorship  of 
the  United  States  in  the  now  contested  territory,  since  during  all  tlie  time 
mentioned  the  open  and  well-known  possession  thereof  and  the  exercise  of 
governmental  control  over  the  same  by  the  United  States  has  never  been, 
until  recently,  assailed  nor  questioned. 

CONSTRUOnON  OF  THE  OONVKNTION  OF  1«S«. 

The  committee  has  heretofore  alluded  to  what  appears  to  be  an  illogical 
construction  given  to  the  terms  of  Article  III  and  IV  of  the  convention  of 
1825,  which  are  identical  with  those  of  Artii^lo  I  of  the  convention  of  1807, 
wherein  the  description  of  the  boundary  line  is  recited.    A  careful  perusal  of 

1058 


II 

the  duacription  fixes  the  initial  point  at  Cape  Chacon,  at  the  soathernmost 
point  of  Prince  of  Wales  Island.  Tlie  first  call  of  the  description  thon  reads, 
"  The  said  line  ahall  iiacend  to  the  nurtti  alonj;  the  channel  called  Portland 
Channel,  as  fur  as  the  point  of  the  continent  where  it  strikes  the  fifty-sixth 
degree  of  north  latitude." 

The  southornmost  point  of  Prince  of  Wales  Island  is  on  the  line  of  64*  W 
north  latitude,  and  the  entrance  of  Portland  Canal  is  due  fast  from  said  point 
about  5((  or  (K)  miles.  The  Canadian  contention  is  that  Bohm  Canal  is  meant, 
because  you  can  only  "ascend  to  the  north  "  from  the  initial  point  through 
that  channel.  Literally  this  is  true,  but  the  construction  disregards  the  ob- 
ject to  which  the  line  is  carried  by  the  words  "  sluill  ascend  to  the  north 
along  the  channel  called  Portland  Channel."  The  familiar  doctrine  that 
courses  and  distances  will  be  controlled  by  monuments  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  taken  into  consideration. 

Aftain,  it  is  contmuled  that  Portland  Canal  is  not  intended,  because  Port- 
land Canal  does  not  "strike  the  flfty-sixth  degree  of  north  latitude,"  and  that 
Belim  Canal  does,  and  was  therefore  intended.  This  interpretation  is  also 
unwarranted  by  the  language  used,  fortlio  p'ain  reading  shows  that  the  lino 
is  the  subject,  and  not  the  canal.  In  other  words,  tlie  Inie  "shall  ascend  to 
the  north,"  etc  ,  as  far  as  tlie  point  of  the  continent  where  it,  the  line,  strikes 
the  fifty-sixth  degree  of  north  latitude. 

The  bou:;d!iry  line  from  this  point  northwe.sterly  to  Mount  St.  Elias,  as 
shown  by  the  oliicial  map  of  British  Columbia,  is  arbitrarily  drawn,  and  .seems 
not  only  to  hold  in  contempt  tlie  language  of  the  description  in  Article  IV, 
before  mentioned,  but  takes  no  note  of  the  physical  facts.  The  language,  it 
appears  to  the  committcM*,  can  sustain  no  other  interpretation  than  tliat 
"whenever  the  summit  of  the  mountains  which  extend  in  a  direction  parallel 
to  the  coast  *  ♦  ♦  shall  prove  to  Ijo  at  a  distance  of  more  than  10  marine 
leagues  from  the  Tcean,  *  ♦  »  theliinit  *  *  *  shall  Informed  by  a  line 
parallel  to  the  windings  of  the  coast,  and  which  shall  never  exceed  the  dis- 
tance of  10  marine  leagues  therefrom."  How  this  line,  which  must  follow  the 
summit  of  the  mountain-;  which  extend  in  a  direction  parallel  to  the  coast, 
and  where  no  mountains  exist  witiiin  the  prescnbi-d  10  marine  leagues,  must 
bo  parallel  wi.  li  the  "windings  of  the  coast,"  (;au,  with  uni:oiitroUed  license, 
sever  the  heads  <;!"  the  great  bays  and  inlets,  spring  from  slioro  to  shore,  ami 
leap  across  the  groat  arms  of  these  inland  waters,  the  committee  has  not  yet 
bt^en  able  to  grasp. 

To  the  words  "  ten  marine  leagues  from  the  ocean  "  is  also  given  the  con- 
struction that  this  distance!  sliould  bi^  measui-ed  I'rom  the  outlying  islands. 
This  can  not  \w  sustained,  because  the  point  wliere  the  line  strikes  tli'>  tlity- 
sixth  degree  of  north  latitude  at  the  head  of  Portland  Canal  is  about  tlie  pre- 
8cril)od  (listance.  and  it  tlieu  follows  the  windings  of  thecoast  of  the  conti- 
Qent  and  not  that  of  the  ishiuds. 

Tlie  committee  is  persuadeil  that  this  entire  interpretation  (!an  be  safely 
overthrowu  and  the  contention  of  the  United  States  ostal)lished  Ixjfore  any 
impartial  tribunal.  An  exaHiination  of  the  diplomatic  correspondence  car- 
ried on  liotween  the  distinguislicd  representatives  of  tlie  Kussianarid  British 
Governments  coruilusively  establishes  the  intention  of  both  the  liigh  con- 
tracting parties  as  t)  this  vei-y  line.  Thi-i  (iorre-^ponih-iKiu  was  carried  on 
from  thecities  of  ,St.  Petersburi;  and  Loudon  for  the  space  of  several  years, 
andculminated  in  the  convention  of  18^5.  At  the  beginning  of  these  commu- 
nications the  liussian  chancellor  directs  the  Russian  aml)assador  at  London 
as  follows: 

"  In  order  not  to  cut  the  ialand.of  Prince  of  Wales,  which,  according  to  that 
arrangt^ment,  should  rest  with  Itussia,  we  would  ])roi)i>so  to  take  the  southern 
frontier  of  our  domain  to  51^  W  of  latitude,  and  to  make  it  abut  on  the  con- 
tinent at  the  Portland  (!anal,  of  which  the  emb  luchere  into  the  ocean  is  oflt 
the  island  of  Prince  of  Wales,  and  its  origin  is  in  the  continent  between  the 
fifty-fifth  and  flfty-si.xth  degrees  of  latitiide." 

Tnis  nroiiosition  is  i)ractically  maintained  throughout  the  many  negotia- 
tions wliich  occurred,  and  is  faii'ly  admitted  by  the  British  plenipotentiary  in 
his  final  communication  to  his  (iovormnent  at  the  time  of  the  execution  of 
said  convention. 

As  to  the  disagreement  T'pon  the  facts:  If  the  reports  in  the  press  of  British 
Columbia  bti  true,  it  is  strenuously  contended  tliat  there  exists  a  ranpe  of 
mountains  v,  ithin  the  10  marine  leagues  limit,  and  it  is  stated  that  the  main  ef- 
fortsof  theCanadianengine(M'sai'e(lirected  to  the(>stablishment  of  I  hat  range. 
In  this  connection,  the  committee  called  upon  Mr.  PliiUip  A.  Walker,  one  o'.' 
thecorpsof  engineers  which  has  lieen  engag"don  the  part  of  the  United  Stateii 
in  surveying  the  disi)uted  territory,  and  he  informed  us  a  few  days  since  thaU 
the  result  of  their  labors  established,  without  doubt,  that  no  range  of  moun- 
tains exists. 

Tlie  outi)ut  from  the  resr)uri ,  s  of  Alaska  since  its  purchase  by  the  United 
States  runs  into  the  millions  fai  in  excess  of  its  purc-ha.se  price,  and  its  com- 

IBW 


2<Jh345 


J.  B.  METCALFE, 
Chairman  of  Committee. 
,,^r-.  SQUIRE.    I  trust  that  early  action  maybe  taken  nnon 
the  joint  resolution.    I  do  not  deem^it  necessary  that  it  shSu?(ftS 

Siy'SVefeS"''"^^"""  '°''*"*'^"'  ^""^  "^  ''^'  thought  b^st it 

Several  Senators.    Let  it  be  referred. 

Mr.  SQUIRE.    Very  well.    I  move  that  the  joint  reaolutinn  h» 
referred  to  the  Committee  on  Foreign  RelaS:       ''®*°^''''°°  °* 

The  motion  was  agreed  to. 
U68 


